DESCRIPTION:
The MD-80 was designed by McDonnell Douglas as an improved version of the popular
Douglas DC-9 family. Based on the DC-9 Series 50, the MD-80 was initially known
as the DC-9-55 and later as the DC-9 Super 80. It was not until 1983 that the design was christened the
MD-80 to reflect the merger of Douglas into McDonnell Douglas.

In comparison with the DC-9-50, the MD-80 featured an increased wingpan, larger fuselage for up to 172
passengers, various aerodynamic improvements (including the "flat" fuselage tailcone), more fuel efficient
engines, and a performance management system to optimize fuel efficiency and performance. No specific
aircraft was actually known as the MD-80. Actually, this generic name was applied to five members of the
design family: the MD-81, MD-82, MD-83, MD-87, and MD-88.

All together, 1,194 MD-80s were built by Douglas and under license by the Shanghai Aviation Industrial
Corporation in China before production ended in 1999. Many MD-80 aircraft remain in service although
numbers are due to be reduced rapidly as airlines take delivery of more fuel efficient
Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 planes. The MD-80 was replaced by
the updated MD-90.